When I was in Sumatra, I naturally went to see the Orangutans in the rainforest of Bukit Lawang. You really shouldn’t miss that when you visit this island of Indonesia! And when you’re there, you naturally also pay a visit to the bat cave in Bukit Lawang. This was one of the trips that was offered and I naturally did it.
Visit to the Bat Cave in Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang – Indonesia
When I arrived by minibus, I was picked up by someone from the guesthouse. Always nice! I had spoken to someone on Samosir who called for me and everything was quickly arranged. It was supposed to be brand new and super cheap! I was picked up by Mudhi and the guesthouse is called Ida Guesthouse. Ida is his wife 🙂
I loved it and when I saw the room I decided I would definitely stay here for a few days. It looked neat and the price was good! It was built above the couple’s restaurant, there were 3 neat, large rooms. The toilet was Western style but couldn’t flush… Ah well, you can figure something out for that too. It had a cold shower but when it’s warm outside, that’s not so bad!
Isn’t this great at Ida Guesthouse?
Walk in the Surroundings of Bukit Lawang – Sumatra, Indonesia
I couldn’t arrange the jungle trip for the next day anymore, but a day later they had a group of at least 3 that I could join. Absolutely great and a day in Bukit Lawang isn’t bad either. I went with Ida to the market to do the daily shopping. Always fun to see the local market of Bukit Lawang for a bit.
In the afternoon, Ida and Mudhi came with the plan that I could go to the bat cave. I was picked up by Putra who took me on the walk of over half an hour to the bat cave in Bukit Lawang. It’s part of the ecotrail that runs on the other side of the river. If I had known that earlier, I would have gone walking there earlier that day… But for now I had a relaxed day, which is also quite nice for once 🙂
We passed some beautiful gardens, a daycare center and a school. We also passed a tree where a snake often lay, Putra told me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there at that moment. I often think then, nice story to tell but whether it’s really true?
Putra Told About the Disaster of 2003
When we passed the daycare center, Putra told about the flood of November 2, 2003. It was Sunday night around 10 PM. Most people were sleeping in their houses when the entire village was flooded by water. He told about a lake higher up in the mountains and that a wall of that lake had collapsed. Part of the lake came down via the river located next to the village.
It was so much water that it carried many trees and rocks down. Eventually the water was so high that everything was underwater and due to the force of the water, an incredible amount was destroyed. There were still people missing… Swept away in the water and never found again.
Putra told that the government did nothing for a long time to help with reconstruction. Only 3 years later was there investment… and now (this was in 2014) there was still much that wasn’t as it should be.
Knowledge gives you freedom (children’s home)
Walking Near Bukit Lawang
When we passed the children’s home, we ended up in the palm plantations. I mentioned it earlier, when we drove to Bukit Lawang we drove for hours only through palm plantations… All the jungle had been cut down… Everything for palm oil and rubber.
Here too… Bukit Lawang is on the edge of the jungle and the plantations…
Putra, my guide
Visit the Bat Cave in Bukit Lawang – A Walk in the Surroundings of Bukit Lawang
The fruits of the palm
After half an hour we arrived at the cave. A man sat at the exit and we paid R 10,000. We chatted for a bit, had some rest and then went inside. It started to rain a little so the timing was perfect!
First we had to go a bit into the jungle and then we were at the cave. We could climb inside and I immediately noticed that it was a bit cooler. Also very dark of course. I had brought a flashlight from Mudhi and I used it. We walked further into the cave and sometimes had to climb and descend to continue. It was a bit wet and therefore slippery, so watch out!
I love these kinds of places and challenging walks!
The 3 Bat Caves Near Bukit Lawang
Opening between two caves
Bat cave in Bukit Lawang
In the first cave hung a few small bats. We continued and briefly came outside and could enter the second cave. In that cave hung really super many bats. You could hear they were communicating with each other. Every time we shone our lamps at them, you heard them squeaking to each other… Maybe also out of irritation towards us 🙂 Sometimes a few started flying but most just hung completely still from the ceiling of the cave.
Bats in the cave near Bukit Lawang
Admiring Bats & Spiders and a Frog
When we entered the third cave, we saw not only bats hanging but also many swallows flying. They had nests and were cheerfully flying in and out. Putra started pointing out large spiders that were also in the cave. He assumed I would find them scary but when I actually found it interesting and wanted to photograph them, we continued searching. We saw many grasshoppers and a few frogs. I hadn’t expected that in a cave either 🙂
It was really a fun and interesting journey in the cave. Putra also enjoyed looking for them for me and I naturally searched along!
Do you see the frog sitting in the hole?
These were bees, Putra told me… With a big spider among them 🙂
At the exit of the cave
It was time to go back. On the way I saw wonderful flowers and many butterflies. Always difficult to photograph these of course but I had a lucky shot 🙂 When the sky turned dark, we started walking a bit faster hoping we would be inside before it broke loose.
We also saw the snake after all, it had slipped out of its hole and beautifully lay on a branch. I stand corrected! These kinds of things always make me very happy. What a beautiful snake!
Isn’t this a wonderful photo? What colors!
We just didn’t make it to reach Ida Guesthouse dry…
I loved walking in the surroundings of Bukit Lawang like this and visiting the cave with bats.
Duration of the trip is about 3 hours and I only went at the end of the afternoon. So on the day of your arrival you could still do this excursion 🙂
You probably came to Bukit Lawang to see the orangutan, see your options at Bukit Lawang.
Sharing is Caring
Bukit Lawang and the Surroundings
I was on Samosir island, at Lake Toba when I went here. It was a journey of about 7 hours driving. Halfway, at Berastagi, some passengers got off who would climb the volcano the next morning. I got a bit jealous 🙂 (For a next trip) There are namely two active volcanoes here in the area: Sibayak and Sinabung
Palm oil plantations swallowing the jungle….
We drove to Bukit Lawang and at a certain point I saw the surroundings change from beautiful Indonesian landscape with the occasional village to nothing but palm oil plantations. We drove at least the last 1.5 hours only through those plantations. All other greenery was gone!! No more jungle but plantations. I saw the name LONDON SUMATRA INDONESIA on a factory… For the employees here a good/better life…but the wildlife has simply been completely wiped away.
We saw the trucks driving back and forth with the fruits of the palms. The driver did say that many local people now have a good income. But now they realize what damage has been done to the environment, they find it very unfortunate. The government is now working to protect the jungle partially, that’s how GUNUNG LEUSER NP was established. This is also the park where I did my two-day trip to the Orangutans and where I was heading.
The jungle is only a fraction of what it once was…
If you want to read about my journey into the jungle, check out the blog: Admiring the Orangutans
Do You Want to Read More?
- Hiking in Pulau Penang National Park – Malaysia
- Cooking Class at Juwita’s Cafe – Samosir Island
- The Borobudur on Java – Indonesia
- 3 Days in the Jungle of Kota Kinabatangan – Borneo
- Trekking to the Top of Mt Pulag – The Philippines